General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 20th 1933
Specification for Electrical Work and Supervision.
Your Sub-Committee report that the City Electrical Engineer has prepared a standard specification for electrical installation at the branches of the Bank, and it is recommended that arrangements be made for the City Electrical Engineer to supervise the work in future cases at a charge of 5% of the amount of the contract, with a minimum charge of £1. 11. 6.
Finance Sub-Committee : May 18th 1934
Condensation at Branches.
For some time trouble has been experienced with condensation from the gas heating system at branches, which results in disfigurement of walls of rooms occupied by Bank tenants. The trouble appears to arise in connection with the construction of the flue, which matter does not appear to have and the attention on the part of Architects and Builders that is necessary; in fact, cases have been discovered where the instructions of the Gas Department in the matter have not been followed. Since June 1930 it has been necessary to undertake remedial measures at eight branches, the cost of which has been borne by the Bank. Recently, further complaints have been investigated at Wheeler Street, Perry Common and Stirchley Branches, and in each case the Gas Department have intimated their willingness to carry out the necessary work to overcome the trouble of disfigurement of walls without charge to the Bank, but they wish to break through the wall at one branch to ascertain the cause of the trouble. It has been agreed that this should be done at the Stirchley Branch.
It also transpires that the Gas Department have been asked by the City Surveyor, who acted as Architect for Sherlock Street Branch, to furnish an estimate for dealing with trouble at this Branch, despite the fact that the necessary remedial measures were supposed to have been taken in April 1931.
The suggestion is made that in addition to instructing Architects to get into touch the Gas Department regarding the construction of the flue, it would be advisable to arrange for the Gas Department to supervise the flue construction at any future branch, and your Sub-Committee are in agreement with this suggestion.
They feel that the Gas Department are doing all they possibly can to overcome the difficulties, which would not have arisen if Architects and Builders had worked in closer co-operation with the Department, and they desire to record their appreciation of the gesture made by the Gas Department in regard to the Wheeler Street, Perry Common and Stirchley Branches referred to above.
Bank Committee: May 18th 1934
5150 RESOLVED:- That the remedial measures proposed in regard to condensation from the Gas Heating system
at branches, as indicated in the foregoing report, be approved, and that the General Manager be directed to convey the Committee's
appreciation of the action taken by the Gas Department in the matter.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 21st 1936
Painting of Branches.
The General Manager has been instructed to arrange in future for outside painting of Branches to take place during the spring and summer and that only inside painting be carried out in the winter. Your Sub-Committee have also reviewed the list of firms to undertake this work, and are of opinion that the best method would be to invite the selected firms to tender in turn in groups of three for such painting work at the respective Branches, when required. They recommend accordingly, and that the Chairman with the General Manager be empowered to accept a suitable tender in each case, reporting their action to your Sub-Committee from time to time.
The following tenders for painting at the undermentioned Branches have been accepted:
|
Name of Branch |
Contractor |
Amount (£. s. d.) |
|
King's Heath |
B A Cashmore & Co |
32. 15. 0. |
|
Alum Rock |
A Seers & Sons Ld |
30. 18. 0. |
|
Hall Green |
A Seers & Sons Ld |
22. 14. 0. |
|
Springfield |
Bowen Bros (Builders) Ld |
35. 0. 0. |
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 18th 1937
"Key" signs etc at Branches.
In accordance with the authority given to the General Manager to continue experiments at Branches with types of advertising signs, and after witnessing a demonstration of signs by the Stereoscopic Processes Ltd for use in windows of Bank buildings, your Sub-Committee recommend the purchase of twenty-five complete units at a cost of 58s/- per unit, and that the General Manager be directed to arrange, if possible, for an interchange of slides with Trustee Savings Banks using this particular type of advertisement.
The General Manager has also been authorised to order a new type of Box "Key" sign from the Electrical Trades Supply Ltd, at a cost of between £11 and £14.
Bank Committee: January 18th 1937
5852 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be authorised to purchase advertising signs for use in windows of Bank buildings, as indicated in the foregoing report, and to arrange if possible for an interchange of slides with Trustee Savings Banks using this particular type of advertisement.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 16th 1938
Lighting Signs at Branches.
Your Sub-Committee report that arrangements have been made for installing the Neon lighting system for signs at 6 branches, viz: Bearwood, Bordesley Green, Hay Mills, Horse Fair, Selly Park and Sparkbrook, at a cost of £168, plus £50 (approximately) in respect of low voltage wiring, with an annual cost for maintenance of £42 per annum.
Bank Committee: May 16th 1938
6222 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements indicated in the foregoing report for the installation of lighting signs at the branches therein be confirmed.
6218 The General Manager submitted a letter from the Bankers' Clearing House (Birmingham) to the effect that on the occasion of the visit of the King and Queen to Birmingham in July, all joint stock Banks would close at 11am. The position of the Municipal Bank was considered and it was decided to leave the matter to the Chairman to decide after hearing the course which would be taken by other Corporation departments.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 19th 1938
Air Raid Precautions and Storage of Duplicate Records.
Your Sub-Committee have considered a report from the General Manager hereon and have approved the arrangements made with regard to air raid precautions in respect of Bank premises and training of the staff.
Your Sub-Committee still have under consideration the question of storing of vital records and documents, and the General Manager is making inquiries into the matter.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 20th 1939
Air Raid Precautions.
Your Committee were informed on the 17th October last that consideration would be given to the question of the suitable storage of duplicate records and documents in case of emergency.
In this connection your Sub-Committee have examined different alternatives including the possibility of storing such records and documents at a suitable place in the country, such as Ludlow and the provision of bomb-proof store-rooms nearer at hand, such as in the embankment of the reservoir now under construction at Kingstanding.
It is considered, however, that both these schemes would entail considerable inconvenience and expense and your Sub-Committee have arrived at the conclusion that a more advantageous and convenient course would be to make arrangements for the interchange of duplicate records between the Branches, which procedure, they are informed is being adopted by certain of the joint stock banks. The General Manager has been instructed to arrange accordingly.
The General Manager has also been authorised to arrange for the removal and replacement of the laylights at the Head Office by a non-splinterable substitute in suitable frames, as the ordinary glass installed at the present time might easily prove a source of danger.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that the above-mentioned actions be confirmed.
Bank Committee: February 20th 1939
6421 RESOLVED:- That, with reference to Air Raid Precautions, the arrangements indicated in the foregoing report as to the interchange of duplicate records between Branches and the replacement of glass Laylights at the Head Office, be confirmed.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 17th 1939
Air Raid Precautions.
Your Sub-Committee have had comprehensive reports from the General Manager with regard to the arrangements made at the Head Office with reference to refuge rooms, the equipment thereof and the training of the staff in regard to air raids precautions.
The General Manager has also reported fully with regard to the arrangements made for provision of refuge rooms at the branches.
With regard to the evening branches at Wells Green and Tower Hill, the General Manager has been directed to arrange for the construction of suitable shelters on these sites, each to accommodate 12 persons.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 15th 1939
Acceleration of Civil Defence Measures.
A communication has been received from the Home Office suggesting that during the next three months priority be given to civil defence matters. The Lord Mayor has requested that a report be made to him on action taken.
Your Sub-Committee consider that all necessary precautions have already been taken, and accordingly they have directed that copies of the reports presented to your Committee on Air Raid Precautions at the Head Office and Branches be forwarded to the Lord Mayor.
Bank Committee: July 17th 1939
The following communication from the General Purposes Committee as to the inclusion of a War Risks Clause in building Contracts was submitted:
The Council
House
Birmingham 1
23rd June, 1939
Dear Sir,
Building Contracts - War Risk Clause
Further to my circular letter of the 17th ultimo, I have to inform you that the General Purposes Committee have approved the principle of the insertion of a War Risk Clause in future Contracts, and with a view to ensuring the uniform application thereof, the Committee recommend that the following clause be inserted in the Conditions of Contract applicable to all future building contracts, viz:
"In the event of the outbreak of hostilities between Great Britain and any other Power involving Great Britain in military operations either party to this contract may terminate this contract by giving seven days previous notice in writing to the other and in such event provided that all the obligations of the Contractors have been duly complied with up to the date of the expiration of such notice the Contractors will be paid for the amount of work done to the entire satisfaction of the Architect at the date of expiry of the said notice a sum [calculated in accordance with the rates set out in the Bills of Quantities*][as may be agreed between the parties**] or in case of difference as may be determined by Arbitration under Clause hereof.
If during the continuance of this contract the works (including any plant tackle or materials brought on the site by the Contractors) sustain damage attributable to such hostilities by reason of fire explosion or other direct damage occurring to or in the neighbourhood of the works or loss occasioned by such damage shall be deemed to be the loss of the owner of the property damaged."
* Delete in the case of a Lump Sum Contract.
** " " " " " a Measure and Value Contract
Yours faithfully,
F H C WILTSHIRE
Town Clerk
6563 RESOLVED:- That the communication be received and entered on the Minutes.
Bank Committee: September 11th 1939
The following report of the General Manager on the question of revising the hours of business of the Bank consequent on the outbreak of war was received:
[see Hours of Business - 1939 to 1945]
6589 RESOLVED:- That the hours of opening of the Head Office and all Branches of the Bank be revised as follows, and that the General Manager be directed to give notice thereof as required by the Regulations:
Monday: 10am to 2:30pm
Tuesday: 10am to 2:30pm
Wednesday: 10am to 2:30pm
Thursday: 10am to 12 noon
Friday: 10am to 2:30pm
Saturday: 10am to 4pm
also, that the Chairman, with the General Manager, be empowered to further revise such hours should it be considered expedient.